Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormPowder / Crystalline
Industry PositionFood additive ingredient (acidity regulator / sequestrant / stabilizer)
Market
Trisodium citrate (INS 331(iii)) in Costa Rica is primarily a B2B food-additive ingredient used by domestic food processors, with supply understood to be import-dependent in the absence of any identified national production base in the cited regulatory and standards sources. In Central America (including Costa Rica), permitted food-additive uses and conditions are set through the RTCA framework that aligns with Codex GSFA, making additive-permitted-use alignment a central market-access requirement. Food-grade acceptance is commonly anchored to internationally recognized specifications for identity and purity (e.g., JECFA) for INS 331(iii). Demand linkage is strongest to Costa Rica’s active processed-food segments (e.g., dairy, bakery, snacks, preserved foods) where buffering/chelating functionality is routinely relevant.
Market RoleImport-dependent consumer market (food manufacturing ingredient)
Domestic RoleFunctional food-additive input for domestic processed-food manufacturing and ingredient distribution
Market GrowthNot Mentioned
Specification
Physical Attributes- White crystalline powder or colorless, odourless crystals (food additive specification reference)
- Freely soluble in water; insoluble in ethanol (food additive specification reference)
Compositional Metrics- Assay: not less than 99.0% calculated on the dried basis (JECFA specification reference)
Grades- Food grade meeting FAO/WHO JECFA identity and purity specifications for trisodium citrate (INS 331(iii))
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Overseas production (food-grade) → ocean freight import → customs clearance → importer/distributor warehousing → B2B delivery to Costa Rican food processors
Temperature- No cold chain required; storage typically focuses on keeping product dry to prevent caking and packaging damage.
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighNon-conformance with Central American RTCA food-additive provisions (permitted use conditions aligned to Codex GSFA) and/or inability to demonstrate food-grade identity/purity (e.g., via JECFA specifications for INS 331(iii)) can trigger customer rejection, regulatory scrutiny, shipment holds, or downstream product non-compliance in Costa Rica.Verify intended food-category uses against RTCA 67.04.54:18/Codex GSFA; require supplier CoA that maps to JECFA trisodium citrate (INS 331(iii)) specifications and maintain batch traceability.
Logistics MediumOcean freight disruptions and rate volatility can raise landed costs and cause delivery delays for bulk additive powders into Costa Rica, impacting production planning for food manufacturers.Hold safety stock at the distributor level; diversify approved origins and forwarders; use forecast-based replenishment tied to manufacturing demand.
Food Safety MediumImpurities (including metals/arsenic-related parameters covered in internationally recognized specifications) are a recurring food-additive acceptance risk if food-grade controls are weak at origin or CoA integrity is insufficient.Source from audited food-grade manufacturers; validate CoA authenticity; implement incoming QC testing aligned to recognized specifications when risk warrants.
Sustainability- Upstream feedstock traceability for fermentation-derived citrate salts (e.g., sugar/maize inputs) may be requested by buyers’ sustainability screening even when production is offshore.
- Environmental controls at origin manufacturing sites (energy intensity and wastewater management) can affect supplier acceptance for Costa Rica–based food manufacturers with ESG requirements.
FAQ
Which rule governs whether trisodium citrate can be used as a food additive in Costa Rica?Costa Rica follows the Central American RTCA food-additives regulation (RTCA 67.04.54:18), which aligns with Codex GSFA. Compliance is typically checked by the additive’s INS number (for trisodium citrate: INS 331(iii)) and the permitted food-category conditions in the RTCA/Codex framework.
What is the INS number and typical function of trisodium citrate used in foods?The FAO/WHO JECFA listing identifies sodium citrate (trisodium citrate) as INS 331(iii) and describes it in functional roles such as acidity regulator, sequestrant, and stabilizer.
What specification is commonly used to demonstrate food-grade quality for trisodium citrate?A common international reference is the FAO/WHO JECFA specification for trisodium citrate (INS 331(iii)), which includes identity/purity expectations and an assay requirement (reported in the specification as not less than 99.0% on a dried basis).